JAV lietuvių ir Lietuvos valdžios santykiai po 1926 m. gruodžio 17-osios
Relationships Between Lithuanian Èmigrès in the USA and Lithuanian Government after December 17, 1926

Summary/Abstract: The author of the article, on the basis of copious émigré press sources and archival documents, aims to evaluate Lithuanian émigrés in the USA (including nationalists, Catholics, socialists and communists) attitude towards the new Lithuanian Nationalist government; an attempt is also made to discuss the Government’s decisions which were supposed to influence the émigré Lithuanian community and to deflect their criticism. The coup d’état in Lithuania shocked Lithuanians in the USA as they, living in a democratic society, could not imagine dictatorship in their native country. The fiercest critics in emigration alongside the communist wing were socialists and sandariečiai; later, they were joined by Catholics. As Lithuanian émigrés in the USA were not united, the coup deepened disagreements both between and within political groups and factions as regards their political stance on Smetona’s government. Therefore, the Nationalist party had to cope with some challenging tasks, i. e. to re-establish broken and fragile relations with the émigré Lithuanian community, neutralize their hostile attitude and, what is more, to win over their confidence and favour. Thus in 1927–1929 the Nationalist party accepted political decisions profitable for the émigré Lithuanian community, e. g. facilitated conditions for the obtaining immovable property, dealt with the issues of citizenship and emigration, allowed the émigré press to appear in Lithuania, prolonged the activities of the Lithuanian legation in Washington, etc. The encouragement to cooperate in the economic sphere or to visit Lithuania smoothed the way for a possible useful cooperation and reduced the Government’s criticism on the part of the Lithuanians émigrés. In addition, the economic crisis of 1929–1932 in the USA also helped to improve the relationship between the Lithuanians in emigration and their Motherland as well as to adopt a more favourable attitude towards Lithuania as some emigrants started contemplating the idea of reemigration, the transfer and investment of their capital in Lithuania or the search for some profitable and acceptable activities in their native country. However, as President Smetona’s government was not completely acceptable to the émigré Lithuanian community, the criticism of President’s regime remained rather strong till the tragic events of 1940.

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